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Women have transformed golf in Kenya, overturning its long history of quiet landscapes and exclusivity that had often left them on the periphery of the sport’s networks.
The narrative in Kenya is shifting as fairways evolve into hubs for mentorship and community. Leading this new charge is entrepreneur Jackline Cherop Sirai, who is changing the game through her Girls Who Golf NBO initiative, which is breaking down barriers to ensure the next generation of female players finds a true sense of belonging on the green.
Sirai is a golfer, entrepreneur, and the founder of Girls Who Golf NBO, a Nairobi-based community that encourages women and girls to take up the sport. Through the initiative, she works to open doors in a game that has long been seen as an exclusive “men’s club”. For Sirai, outdoor mornings naturally go hand in hand with another defining part of her life: golf. For many women entering golf spaces, whether out on the green or back at the clubhouse, the experience can feel intimidating. Sirai remembers arriving at a golf club and sensing that she did not quite belong.
“You would come here and still feel lonely, like you don’t belong. When we started, we knew the narrative had to change,” she explained.
According to the 2024 R&A Global Golf Participation Report, female engagement in the sport is growing sharply across the continent, with countries such as Nigeria and Morocco reporting that women now represent approximately 30% of adult registered golfers. This growth is emulated in Kenya, where the Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) and the Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) have seen a steady inflow of new players.
Sirai’s golf initiative journey began in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic slowed global travel and daily routines shifted, leaving her with unexpected time. Her travel company, Densey Tours & Travel, like many businesses in the tourism sector, had slowed significantly as borders closed and trips were cancelled, she said.
“The work slowed down by itself, so instead of just sitting in the house, I would go play golf.”
Within those long months, she had an idea that later became Girls Who Golf NBO. The golf community began informally during the pandemic, bringing together women interested in the game. What started as a small circle of players gradually developed into a wider network focused on mentorship, skills training and connection.
Additionally, a certified coach based in Nairobi, Golf coach Emmanuel Wekesa, has witnessed the growing move first-hand. Wekesa has been teaching golf since 2018 and works with men, women and junior players.
Since 2021, he said, more women have begun taking up the sport, many of them starting from scratch.
“I’ve taught approximately more than 400 women since 2021, right from scratch, starting golf without knowing anything. Before, golf used to be seen as a sport for men, but what I’m seeing now is that it has really changed. Women are really playing, and they love the sport.” says Wekesa.
In recent times, the group has organised golf clinics, friendly tournaments and networking events for professional women across Nairobi. More importantly, it connects experienced golfers with younger girls who are just discovering the sport. Sirai and her team partner with golf clubs to introduce girls to the game, often inviting them to participate in events or attend training sessions.
Sirai stated that early exposure to the sport matters. When children start a sport early, it becomes part of their world rather than something distant or inaccessible. Through mentorship and regular interaction with clubs, the organisation hopes to see more young female golfers filling courses across Kenya in the years ahead.
“The best age to start is three years. As this child grows up, they know this is what they are supposed to do,” she said.
Ruby Abura is among the young golfers drawn into the Girls Who Golf NBO programmes, still early in her journey but clear about what she hopes to achieve in the sport. She stated,
“I’ve just started, but I’d like to be top most, you see those people you just walk and recognise for golfing and all the others, hopefully with the help of Girls Who Golf, I’ll reach there.”
Ruby Abura describes her approach to golf as open and ready to learn: “Today we’re here to learn golf. You just have an open mind, be ready to learn and get the best from what you are given.”
On the course, Sirai moves with quiet confidence. At one green, she studies the slope, taps the ball, and watches it drop into the hole. She and her playing partner, Rachel Ndei, share a high-five and a laugh, moments that drew Sirai to the game.
Rachel, an experienced player since 2015, says the initiative has changed how women experience the sport. “What I love most about Jackline is her soft heart,” she says. “She cuts across from those of us who are experienced to those who have never even held a club.” For Rachel, the group is about belonging: “I feel blessed.”
Golf remains mental and demanding, requiring patience, discipline, and access to gear, but through the sport, Sirai has also built business connections. “The more people you meet, you’re marketing what you do,” she says. As evening falls at Thika Greens Golf Resort, the women sit around a table with tea, replaying shots and laughing.
Ivan Vodohi, bird story agency.
